2025 May: SC to North Carolina

Clark and Ev

 

6 May 2025

Depart: Winyah Bay anchorage SC 7:55

Arrive: Masonboro Inlet anchorage NC 8:30

Distance: 101 nm

Travel Time: 12.5 hours

When Clark looked at the graph showing the tides for Winyah Bay, it showed us having the current against us going into the ocean. With that in mind, we decided to get up and get going whenever we were ready to leave. Thus, we took our time and did not get underway until almost 8:00. Even so, we still expected to be fighting the current.

 However, as it turned out, the graph on the tide app was incorrect, and we had the current with us going out into the ocean. That made up for some lost time on our lazy schedule at the start of today's voyage. Our target for tonight was the "Tina's Pocket" anchorage off Cape Fear near Southport, NC.

With that anchorage being 67 nm distance and 7.5 hours travel time, we anticipated arriving there around 5:00 p.m. 

 However, when we got on the Cape Fear River, we found we had a fast current with us giving us an expedited ride upriver. We decided to keep going. Our revised calculations indicated that we would arrive at the Masonboro Inlet anchorage around 8:00, which should give us adequate time to drop anchor just before sunset and position us for a rapid entry to the ocean tomorrow allowing us to arrive in Beaufort, NC in time to meet up with some folks we wished to see there.

As we traveled the inlet into the ocean, we exited the channel well before the channel entrance marker. A Fleming that had traveled all the way to that marker called us on the VHF radio to inquire about water depths. "How deep was the shallowest water on your route?" He seemed to be jealous of the time we saved by turning north early. He is a delivery captain, and based on the data Clark provided, it seems he will be turning north before the end of that channel next time he is here.

When we arrived at the Masonboro anchorage, however, we found a fleet of boats anchored there before us. We dropped anchor at the end of a long line of boats - mostly sailboats - in 26 feet of water. That meant we put out near 250 feet of anchor line. When we had the anchor down and surveyed our situation, we decided that with so much line out, we might find ourselves beached in the morning. We pulled up anchor to try again.

Clark suggested we move to the other end of the anchorage to find a new spot, but as we motored that way, I could see in the distance boat after boat anchored there as well. We have never seen so many boats in this anchorage! When I said the other anchorage looked full also, Clark pulled out the binoculars for a look and then said he had one more idea. He made a U-turn and moved to the opposite side of the inlet where instead of 26 feet of water under the keel, we had only 3 feet! Fortunately, we were already at near low tide, so we would not expect to go any lower in the water.

As we traveled the ocean waters, we listened to an Agatha Christie Novel. At the end of the story, we had a 20 minute conversation discussing the details of who did what to whom! We had been planning since Marathon to meet up with our boating friends in Carolina Beach. With our delay leaving Vero Beach, timing did not work out, so we had a pass on that activity. Omitting this stop added to our decision to change travel plans and get further north today.

Pictures taken on today's travels ...

Georgetown Lighthouse

The chart below shows the reason we like to travel by ocean through this part of our voyage. Because the land curves inward, the distance on the ocean is significantly less than the ICW route. Plus, we do not have to worry about passing boats, and we do not have to be concerned with low tide water levels.

We saw some commercial traffic on the ocean. 

Fishing Charter

Big Ship further out to sea

Bald Head Island Lighthouse

Cape Fear Ferry

 Entry to Snow's Cut

Snow's Cut

Folks on Shore on
Snow's Cut

Quick click of sunset as we look for
a place to drop anchor

7 May 2025

Depart: Masonboro anchorage in NC 7:15

Arrive: Homer Smith Marina, Beaufort, NC 4:00

Distance: 70 nm

Time Traveled: 8.5 hours

Unfortunately, where we anchored was not an area where passing boats slowed down to reduce wake. Our first wake this morning came at 4:00 a.m. and then around 5:00 more came by to rock us. By 6:00 we were out of bed and getting ready to get going for the day.

As we left our anchorage spot, we could see the anchorage where we hoped to drop anchor last night. That fleet of boats that were anchored there were all gone! As we motored out into the ocean, Clark said, "I know! All those boats anchored there to avoid the construction work at the Onslow Bridge with their off-putting bridge-closings schedule!"

Unlike yesterday where we had the ocean mostly to ourselves, we saw multiple sailboats on the ocean. They may have left before us, but we caught up and passed them all! They too were heading to the Beaufort Inlet! 

As it was yesterday with the curve of the shoreline, we had a shorter trip on the ocean than on the ICW. Taking a straight line from one inlet to the other, we found ourselves almost 10 miles offshore. I had a downloaded audible book that we listened to as we traveled - another mystery, but not Agatha Christie, set in Key West.

Buildings on shore several miles away

One of the many sailboats we saw / passed today

Fishing boat coming in Beaufort Inlet
No fish on rack!

We make a point of stopping in the Beaufort area on each trip north and south, to and from Florida. Normally we visit with our friends, Beverly and Dave. However, once again due to the Vero Beach delay, we are weeks later than anticipated, and Beverly and Dave were away this time.

However, we had a big surprise! Clark's cousin, Barb, and her family were nearby on a family holiday. She and her partner told us they could meet us at the marina, so we could go to dinner together. Today was the first day we stepped on land since we left Vero Beach a week ago! The first thing we did after tying up at the dock was get rid of the garbage!

Barb asked if we needed anything from a store, so when they came to the marina, they came bearing Killer Dave's bagels for Clark's breakfast. That was our only urgent need. 

Clark, Barb, and Barbara

When we stop here to see Beverly and Dave, we traditionally go to eat at the 34 North restaurant at the Beaufort Hotel. Given we are familiar with it, and always enjoy the food there, we went there with the "Barbs".

I noticed a signpost I had not seen on previous visits.

The spot used to be a factory and had some interesting artifacts on display.

Table made from a gear - Clark loved it!

We traveled by Uber to the restaurant and got "Norman", a very talkative and enjoyable driver.  Barb has an interesting sense of humor which tends to make conversation most enjoyable. Getting the cousins (Clark and Barb) together is great fun. Barbara and I were laughing so hard through dinner, we were in tears!

Barbara, Ev, Barb, Clark
at 34 North

Unfortunately, we did not get Norman for the ride back to the marina. The ride was fine, but just normal - not a lively discussion. We had a bit of wait for the cousins' ride and a touch of rain, so we eventually waited inside the marina building.

Clark tried to convince me that I should do laundry while here because the washer / dryer were available and free.  Since it was close to 9:00, I looked at him askance. He said, "I mean in the morning before we leave." I replied, "I'm not interested!" I suggested that he should do the laundry if he wanted it done. It did not happen.

8 May 2025

Depart: Beaufort, NC - Homer Smith Marina - 7:40

Arrive: Tuckahoe Point anchorage in Alligator River, NC 6:15

Distance: ~ 86 nm

Travel Time: 10.5 Hours

We woke up early, ate breakfast, and got underway. Had I agreed to the "do the laundry" idea, we would have left closer to the checkout time at 11:00 this morning. I was glad I refused to consider it!

Unlike the last two travel days, the terrain today was not conducive to travel on the ocean. The Outer Banks are in the way! Once again, we changed our target anchorage part way through the day. We planned on stopping at the beginning of the Alligator - Pongo Canal. Instead, we traveled the canal and dropped anchor in the Alligator River. It added another 3 hours to our travel time.

Pictures from today's travel ...

Sunrise at the Marina

Bird outside marina restroom

Because we were on the ICW, we had a variety of boat traffic today.

Trawler "Miss McKenzie"

Tow Boat with Barge

Our cruise took us past R E Mayo Seafood. 

Black Pirate Ship docked at R E Mayo

Six trawlers were docked at R E Mayo as we passed -- some of them in better condition than the rest.

One of the rustier ones

One emptying their bilge of a lot of water

Boats lined up at R E Mayo dock

The rivers and canals offered lots of opportunities for the flies to hitch a ride with us.

We found and passed two tugs with one barge as we approached the canal.

We had a lot of cloud cover today but no rain to go with it.

Light breaking through the clouds

After exiting the canal, we found a place in our targeted anchorage for the night on the Alligator River. As we made and ate dinner, we had more fighter jets fly overhead than I could count. They were so loud as they passed over that we could not hear each other talk! Thankfully, they eventually stopped coming!